Tourist attractions in Sofia
Encyclopedia
Churches
| Church | Description | Picture |
|---|---|---|
| Church of St George | The Church of St George is a late Roman rotunda Rotunda (architecture) A rotunda is any building with a circular ground plan, sometimes covered by a dome. It can also refer to a round room within a building . The Pantheon in Rome is a famous rotunda. A Band Rotunda is a circular bandstand, usually with a dome... dated from 4th century situated in the courtyard of the Sheraton Sofia Hotel. It was constructed with red bricks and is considered the oldest building in Sofia. It is known for its Medieval frescoes in the central dome dating from 12-14th centuries. |
 |
| Church of St Sophia | The early Byzantine Church of St Sophia was built in the 6th century on the place of an ancient Roman theatre and several earlier churches. During the Second Bulgarian Empire the structure served as the cathedral of the city but was later converted to a mosque by the Ottoman Empire. | |
| Boyana Church Boyana Church The Boyana Church is a medieval Bulgarian Orthodox church situated on the outskirts of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, in the Boyana quarter... |
The Boyana Church is a medieval Bulgarian Orthodox church situated on the outskirts of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, in the Boyana quarter. The monument was added to the UNESCO UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations... World Heritage List in 1979. |
|
| St. Sedmochislenitsi Church Sveti Sedmochislenitsi Church The Sveti Sedmochislenitsi Church is a Bulgarian Orthodox church in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. It was created between 1901 and 1902 through the conversion of an abandoned Ottoman mosque, and was inaugurated on 27 July 1903... |
It was created between 1901 and 1902 through the conversion of an abandoned Ottoman mosque, and was inaugurated on 27 July 1903.The so-called Black Mosque was built in 1528 on the order of Suleiman the Magnificent with the intention to be more impressive and beautiful than the Christian churches in the city. The mosque is popularly attributed to the famous Ottoman architect Sinan, although this is uncertain. It was constructed at the place of a former nunnery of the Rila Monastery and an Early Christian temple from the 4th-5th century, the ruins of which were excavated in 1901. | |
| Alexander Nevsky Cathedral Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Sofia The St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is a Bulgarian Orthodox cathedral in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. Built in Neo-Byzantine style, it serves as the cathedral church of the Patriarch of Bulgaria and is one of the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in the world, as well as one of Sofia's symbols... |
The gold-domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral was built in the early 20th century in memory of the 200,000 Russia Russia Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects... n, Ukrainian, Belorussian and Bulgarian soldiers, who died in the Russo-Turkish War, 1877–1878. It is one of the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in the world. The cathedral's gold-plated dome is 45 m high, with the bell tower reaching 50.52 m. |
|
| Church of St. Paraskeva Church of St Paraskeva, Sofia The Church of St Paraskeva is a Bulgarian Orthodox church in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. The church, dedicated to Saint Paraskeva, is located on 58 Georgi Rakovski Street in the centre of the city... |
The church, dedicated to Saint Paraskeva, is located on 58 Georgi Rakovski Street in the centre of the city. It is the third-largest church in Sofia. The construction of the Church of St Paraskeva was complete by 1930, but the finishing works on the porticos did not cease until 1940. | |
| St Nedelya Church St Nedelya Church Holy Sunday Church is an Eastern Orthodox church in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, a cathedral of the Sofia bishopric of the Bulgarian Patriarchate. Sveta Nedelya is a medieval church that has suffered destruction through the ages and has been reconstructed many times.-History:The history of the... |
St Nedelya is a medieval church that has suffered destruction through the ages and has been reconstructed many times. It was razed in the assault in 1925 St Nedelya Church assault The St Nedelya Church assault was an attack upon St. Nedelya Church in Bulgaria. It was carried out on 16 April 1925, when a group of the Bulgarian Communist Party blew up the roof of the St Nedelya Church in the capital Sofia. This occurred during the funeral service of General Konstantin... that claimed over 150 victims. After the assault, the church was restored to its modern appearance. Today St Nedelya is a cathedral of the Sofia bishopric of the Bulgarian Patriarchate Bulgarian Orthodox Church The Bulgarian Orthodox Church - Bulgarian Patriarchate is an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Church with some 6.5 million members in the Republic of Bulgaria and between 1.5 and 2.0 million members in a number of European countries, the Americas and Australia... . |
|
| Church of St Petka | The tiny Church of St Petka of the Saddlers from the 14th century featuring some fine frescoes. It is a one-nave edifice dedicated to St Petka, a 11th century Bulgarian saint. | |
| Russian Church Russian Church, Sofia The Russian Church , officially known as the Church of St Nicholas the Miracle-Maker , is a Russian Orthodox church in central Sofia, Bulgaria, situated on Tsar Osvoboditel Boulevard.-History and architecture:The church was built on the site of the Saray Mosque, which was destroyed in 1882, after the... |
The Russian Church or the Church of St. Nicholas the Miracle-Maker, built in 1914 is dedicated to the patron-saint of the Russian Tsar Tsar Tsar is a title used to designate certain European Slavic monarchs or supreme rulers. As a system of government in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire, it is known as Tsarist autocracy, or Tsarism... at the time Nicholas II Nicholas II of Russia Nicholas II was the last Emperor of Russia, Grand Prince of Finland, and titular King of Poland. His official short title was Nicholas II, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias and he is known as Saint Nicholas the Passion-Bearer by the Russian Orthodox Church.Nicholas II ruled from 1894 until... . The construction was supervised by the architect A. Smirnov, who was building the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral nearby. |
Other places of worship
| Worship | Description | Picture |
|---|---|---|
| Cathedral of St Joseph Cathedral of St Joseph, Sofia The Cathedral of St Joseph is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. It is the co-cathedral of the Diocese of Sofia and Plovdiv, together with the Cathedral of St Louis in Plovdiv.... |
The Cathedral of St Joseph is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Sofia. The cathedral, rebuilt at its previous location after it was destroyed by the Allied bombing raids during World War II, was inaugurated on 21 May 2006 in the presence of Angelo Cardinal Sodano, Dean of the College of Cardinals and Cardinal Secretary of State of the Roman Catholic Church. The foundation stone of the new cathedral was laid personally by Pope John Paul II during his visit to Bulgaria in 2002. | |
| Banya Bashi Mosque Banya Bashi Mosque Banya Bashi Mosque is a mosque in Sofia, Bulgaria. Its construction was completed in 1576, during the years the Ottomans had control of the town. The mosque derives its name from the phrase Banya Bashi, which means many baths... |
Banya Bashi Mosque is a mosque in Sofia, Bulgaria. It is one of the oldest mosques in Europe, having been completed in 1576, during the years the Ottomans had control of the capital. | |
| Sofia Synagogue Sofia Synagogue The Sofia Synagogue is the largest synagogue in Southeastern Europe, one of two functioning in Bulgaria and the third-largest in Europe.Constructed for the needs of the Bulgarian capital Sofia's mainly Sephardic Jewish community after a project by the Austrian architect Friedrich Grünanger, it... |
The Sofia Synagogue is the largest synagogue in Southeastern Europe, one of two functioning in Bulgaria and one of the largest in Europe. The synagogue was officially opened on 9 September 1909. |
Museums and galleries
| Museum | Description | Picture |
|---|---|---|
| National Historical Museum National Historical Museum (Bulgaria) The National Historical Museum in Sofia is Bulgaria's largest museum. It was founded on 5 May 1973 and its first representative exposition was opened in 1984 to commemorate 1300 years of Bulgarian history... |
The National Historical museums is among the largest museums in Eastern Europe and possess more than 650,000 artifacts. Ancient Thracian treasure Thracian treasure The Thracians were skillful craftsmen. They made beautifully ornate golden and silver objects such as various kinds of vessels, rhytons, facial masks, pectorals, jewelry, weapons, etc. They used to bury rich hoards of precious objects both to hide them in times of enemy invasions and unrest as... s, old armoury and weaponry, medieval church plates are among the most valuable objects in the collection. |
|
| National Archaeological Museum National Archaeological Museum (Bulgaria) The National Archaeological Museum is an archaeological museum in the centre of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. It occupies the building of the largest and oldest former Ottoman mosque in the city, Büyük camii , built from stone around 1474 under Mehmed II... |
The National Archaeological Museum occupies the largest and oldest former Ottoman mosque in the city built in 1474. It has a large collection of archaeological artifacts from all over the Balkans including some of the golden Thracian treasures. The museum is among Bulgaria's oldest and was inaugurated in 1905. | |
| National Museum of Military History | The National Military History Museum is a Bulgarian museum based in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, and dedicated to military history. | |
| Earth and Man National Museum Earth and Man National Museum The Earth and Man National Museum is a mineralogical museum in the centre of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria.It's one of the biggest mineralogical museums in the world. It was founded on 30 December 1985 and opened for visitors on 19 June 1987... |
It's one of the biggest mineralogical museums in the world. It was founded on 30 December 1985 and opened for visitors on 19 June 1987. | |
| National Art Gallery National Art Gallery (Bulgaria) The National Art Gallery is Bulgaria's national gallery and houses over 50,000 pieces of Bulgarian art. It is located on Battenberg Square in the capital city of Sofia, occupying most of the historic and imposing edifice of the former royal palace of Bulgaria, having been established in 1934 and... |
It is located on Battenberg Square in the capital city of Sofia, occupying most of the historic and imposing edifice of the former royal palace of Bulgaria, having been established in 1934 and moved to the palace in 1946, after the abolition of the monarchy. | |
| National Gallery of Foreign Art National Gallery for Foreign Art The National Gallery for Foreign Art of Bulgaria is a gallery located on St. Alexander Nevsky Square in Sofia. It serves as the country's national institution for non-Bulgarian art... |
The National Gallery of Foreign Art occupies an imposing 19th century building. The gallery's permanent exposition features European Western art history Western art is the art of the North American and European countries, and art created in the forms accepted by those countries.Written histories of Western art often begin with the art of the Ancient Middle East, Ancient Egypt and the Ancient Aegean civilisations, dating from the 3rd millennium BC... , Asian Asian art Asian art can refer to art amongst many cultures in Asia.-Various types of Asian art:*Afghan art*Azerbaijanian art*Balinese art*Bhutanese art*Buddhist art*Burmese contemporary art*Chinese art*Eastern art*Indian art*Iranian art*Islamic art... (Buddhist, Japanese and Indian) and African art African art African art constitutes one of the most diverse legacies on earth. Though many casual observers tend to generalize "traditional" African art, the continent is full of people, societies, and civilizations, each with a unique visual special culture. The definition also includes the art of the African... , as well as separate contemporary art Contemporary art Contemporary art can be defined variously as art produced at this present point in time or art produced since World War II. The definition of the word contemporary would support the first view, but museums of contemporary art commonly define their collections as consisting of art produced... and engraving Engraving Engraving is the practice of incising a design on to a hard, usually flat surface, by cutting grooves into it. The result may be a decorated object in itself, as when silver, gold, steel, or glass are engraved, or may provide an intaglio printing plate, of copper or another metal, for printing... sections. |
|
| National Museum of Natural History National Museum of Natural History (Bulgaria) The National Museum of Natural History of Bulgaria is a museum of natural history located in Sofia, the capital of the country on "Tzar Osvoboditel" str. next to the Russian church... |
The museum's collection includes over 400 stuffed mammals, over 1,200 species of birds, hundreds of thousands of insects and other invertebrata, as well as samples of about one quarter of the world's mineral species. Today's National Museum of Natural History was founded in 1889 as the Natural History Museum of Knyaz Knyaz Kniaz, knyaz or knez is a Slavic title found in most Slavic languages, denoting a royal nobility rank. It is usually translated into English as either Prince or less commonly as Duke.... Ferdinand of Bulgaria. |
Education and Sciences
| Education and Sciences | Description | Picture |
|---|---|---|
| Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Bulgarian Academy of Sciences The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences is the National Academy of Bulgaria, established in 1869. The Academy is autonomous and has a Society of Academicians, Correspondent Members and Foreign Members... |
The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences is the National Academy of Bulgaria, established in 1869. The Academy is autonomous and has a Society of Academicians, Correspondent Members and Foreign Members. It publishes and circulates different scientific works, encyclopedias, dictionaries and journals, and runs its own publishing house. | |
| Sofia University Sofia University The St. Clement of Ohrid University of Sofia or Sofia University is the oldest higher education institution in Bulgaria, founded on 1 October 1888... |
The St. Clement of Ohrid University of Sofia or Sofia University is the oldest higher education institution in Bulgaria, founded on 1 October 1888. The university's edifice was constructed between 1924 and 1934 with the financial support of the brothers Evlogi Georgiev and Hristo Georgiev, whose sculptures are now featured on its façade, and has an area of 18,624 m² and a total of 324 premises. | |
| National Academy of Arts National Academy of Arts The National Academy of Arts is an institution of higher education in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. It is the oldest and most renowned academy of arts in the country.... |
The National Academy of Arts was founded in 1896 by the noted artists and public figures Ivan Mrkvička, Anton Mitov and Dr Ivan Shishmanov, who drafted a bill regarding the establishment of the State School of Drawing. |  |
| Sofia Seminary Sofia Seminary The Sofia Seminary of St John of Rila , located in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, is the main seminary of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and an ecclesiastical institution of higher education. Founded in 1874 as the Samokov Theological School in the Sts... |
The Sofia Seminary's construction began in 1902, when Knyaz Ferdinand of Bulgaria laid the foundation stone together with the chairman of the Holy Synod, Metropolitan Simeon of Varna and Veliki Preslav, in the presence of ministers and other influential figures. The complex, designed by Austro-Hungarian architect Friedrich Grünanger, who united Eclecticism with elements of traditional Byzantine architecture, was completed towards the end of 1902 and inaugurated on 20 January 1903. The Seminary Church of St John of Rila, a one-naved cross-domed basilica, was opened on 26 October 1904, St Demetrius' Day. |
Miscellaneous places of culture
| Place | Description | Picture |
|---|---|---|
| Ivan Vazov National Theatre Ivan Vazov National Theatre The Ivan Vazov National Theatre is Bulgaria's national theatre, as well as the oldest and most authoritative theatre in the country and one of the important landmarks of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria... |
The Ivan Vazov National Theatre is Bulgaria's national theatre, as well as the oldest and most authoritative theatre in the country and one of the important landmarks of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. | |
| Central Military Club Central Military Club The Central Military Club is a multi-purpose monument of culture building in the centre of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, located on Tsar Osvoboditel Boulevard and Georgi Rakovski Street. It serves the Bulgarian Army and is administered by the Executive Agency of Military Clubs and... |
The Central Military Club is a multi-purpose monument of culture building in the centre of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, located on Tsar Osvoboditel Boulevard and Georgi Rakovski Street. It serves the Bulgarian Army and is administered by the Executive Agency of Military Clubs and Information. | |
| National Opera and Ballet National Opera and Ballet The National Opera and Ballet is a national cultural institution in Bulgaria that covers opera and ballet. It is based in an imposing building in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria.... |
The first opera company in Bulgaria was founded in 1890 as part of the Capital Opera and Drama Company. The National Opera and Ballet's building was designed in 1921 and mostly built between 1947 and 1953, when it was opened. | |
| SS. Cyril and Methodius National Library SS. Cyril and Methodius National Library The SS. Cyril and Methodius National Library is the national library of Bulgaria, situated in the capital city of Sofia... |
Founded on 4 April 1878, the library received the status of Bulgarian National Library three years later and the Bulgarian National Revival Archive was merged into it in 1924. |  |
| Slaveykov Square Slaveykov Square Slaveykov Square is one of the most popular squares in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. It is named after Bulgarian writers Petko and Pencho Slaveykov, a father and a son. A sculpture of the two sitting on a bench is one of its main landmarks... |
The outdoor book-market on Slaveykov Square. | |
| National Palace of Culture National Palace of Culture The National Palace of Culture , located in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, is the largest multifunctional congress, conference, convention and exhibition centre in Southeastern Europe... |
The National Palace of Culture cultural and congressional centre — the largest multifunctional complex in Southeastern Europe Balkans The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe... , inaugurated in 1981 and situated in a lush green park surroundings. |
Administrative places
| Place | Description | Picture |
|---|---|---|
| National Assembly of Bulgaria National Assembly of Bulgaria The National Assembly of Bulgaria is the unicameral parliament and body of the legislative of the Republic of Bulgaria.The National Assembly of Bulgaria was established in 1879 with the Constitution of Bulgaria.-Ordinary National Assembly:... |
The National Assembly of Bulgaria was established in 1879 with the Constitution of Bulgaria Constitution of Bulgaria The Constitution of Bulgaria is the supreme and basic law of the Republic of Bulgaria. The current constitution was adopted on 12 July 1991 by the 7th Grand National Assembly of Bulgaria, and defines the country as a unitary parliamentary republic... . |
|
| Sofia Court House Sofia Court House The Sofia Court House is a building in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, accommodating all the courts in the city. Stylistically a simplistic yet monumental structure, it is located on 2 Vitosha Boulevard, surrounded by Alabin Street, Laveleye Street and Positano Street.The need for a common... |
The need for a common building to house all the courts in Sofia was raised in 1926 with the foundation of the Judicial Buildings fund. Construction began in 1929 and finished in 1940. | |
| Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (Bulgaria) The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Bulgaria is the ministry charged with regulating agriculture and forestry in the country. It was founded as the Ministry of Agriculture and State Property on 24 July 1911, when it was separated from the Ministry of Commerce and Agriculture.The Minister... |
It was founded as the Ministry of Agriculture and State Property on 24 July 1911, when it was separated from the Ministry of Commerce and Agriculture. | |
Tombs and Monuments
| Place | Description | Picture |
|---|---|---|
| Battenberg Mausoleum Battenberg Mausoleum The Memorial Tomb of Alexander I of Battenberg , better known as the Battenberg Mausoleum in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, is the mausoleum and final resting place of Prince Alexander I of Bulgaria , the first Head of State of modern Bulgaria.Commissioned to the Swiss architect Hermann Mayer,... |
The Memorial Tomb of Alexander I of Battenberg, better known as the Battenberg Mausoleum in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, is the mausoleum and final resting place of Prince Alexander I of Bulgaria (1857–1893), the first Head of State of modern Bulgaria. | |
| Monument to Vasil Levski Monument to Vasil Levski, Sofia The Monument to Vasil Levski in the centre of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, is one of the first monuments to be built in the then newly-liberated Principality of Bulgaria... |
The bronze bas-relief of the head of Vasil Levski, part of the monument, was created by Josef Strachovský, whereas Italian Abramo Peruchelli did the stonecutting work. It was inaugurated on 22 October 1895, but was planned and worked on ever since the Liberation of Bulgaria in 1878, the construction being hindered by a chronic lack of funds and negligence, and taking a whole 17 years. |  |
| Monument to the Tsar Liberator Monument to the Tsar Liberator The Monument to the Tsar Liberator is an equestrian monument in the centre of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. It was erected in honour of Russian Emperor Alexander II who liberated Bulgaria of Ottoman rule during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78.... |
The Monument to the Tsar Liberator is an equestrian monument in the centre of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. It was erected in honour of Russian Emperor Alexander II who liberated Bulgaria of Ottoman rule during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78. | |
| Monument to the Unknown Soldier, Sofia Monument to the Unknown Soldier, Sofia The Monument to the Unknown Soldier is a monument in the centre of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, located just next to the 6th-century Church of St Sophia, on 2 Paris Street. The monument commemorates the hundreds of thousands of Bulgarian soldiers who died in wars defending their homeland... |
The Monument to the Unknown Soldier features an eternal flame, turf from Stara Zagora and Shipka Pass, sites of two of the most important battles of the Russo-Turkish War of Liberation. |  |
| Russian Monument Russian Monument, Sofia The Russian Monument is a monument in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. The first monument to be built in the capital of the newly liberated Principality of Bulgaria, it was unveiled on 29 June 1882 and is located on the road which Osman Nuri Paşa used to flee from Sofia to Pernik on 22 December... |
The Russian Monument is a monument in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. The first monument to be built in the capital of the newly liberated Principality of Bulgaria, it was unveiled on 29 June 1882 and is located on the road which Osman Nuri Paşa used to flee from Sofia to Pernik on 22 December 1877 |  |
| Monument to the Soviet Army | The Monument to the Soviet Army was built in 1954. |
Shopping Malls
| Mall | Description | Picture |
|---|---|---|
| TZUM TZUM TZUM-Sofia is an upmarket department store in the centre of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, officially opened in 1957 and situated in a monumental edifice on one of the city's main boulevards.... |
The store's construction began in 1955 and ended in the end of 1956, when the first customers entered TZUM. It was officially opened with a ceremony in 1957. The edifice was designed by architect Kosta Nikolov and has an area of 20,570 m². It features a covered inner yard taking up the centre of five of the building's seven floors. | |
| Mall of Sofia Mall of Sofia Mall of Sofia is a shopping mall in the centre of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. It was opened on 9 June 2006 and is located at the intersection of Aleksandar Stamboliyski Boulevard and Opalchenska Street in the centre of the city... |
The mall is four stories tall and has a total of 70,000 m² of built-up area, of which 35,000 m² belong to the commercial and entertainment sector and 10,000 m² are offices, while the underground parking lot takes up 22,000 m² and has a capacity of 700 vehicles. The remainder of 8,000 m² is occupied by service and common areas. | |
| City Center Sofia City Center Sofia City Center Sofia is a shopping mall located in Sofia, Bulgaria, opened in the spring of 2006. It is situated to the south of the National Palace of Culture in the municipality of Triaditsa at the intersection of the Boulevards "Cherni vrah" and "Arsenalski", diagonally opposed to the Hemus... |
The mall six stories and a total built-up area of 44,000 m². There are more than 100 stores, several cafes, a pharmacy, beauty parlors, bank offices and parking lots. There are also two hypermarkets presented in the mall: Technomarket and Picadilly. The cinema complex "Cineplex" has six halls with a total of 1,340 seats. | |
| Sky City Mall Sky City Mall Sky City Mall is a shopping mall located in the eastern part of the Bulgarian capital Sofia, in the municipality of Slatina. It is located in a close proximity to the Pliska Hotel and opened on 19 September 2006.... |
The mall disposes of 26,000 m² of shopping area, a 300-place ground and underground parking lot. It has a large entertainment zone which includes a two-level bowling Bowling Bowling Bowling Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule... hall, several billiards Billiards Cue sports , also known as billiard sports, are a wide variety of games of skill generally played with a cue stick which is used to strike billiard balls, moving them around a cloth-covered billiards table bounded by rubber .Historically, the umbrella term was billiards... halls, snooker Snooker Snooker is a cue sport that is played on a green baize-covered table with pockets in each of the four corners and in the middle of each of the long side cushions. A regular table is . It is played using a cue and snooker balls: one white , 15 worth one point each, and six balls of different :... tables, darts Darts Darts is a form of throwing game where darts are thrown at a circular target fixed to a wall. Though various boards and games have been used in the past, the term "darts" usually now refers to a standardised game involving a specific board design and set of rules... , an Internet cafe Internet cafe An Internet café or cybercafé is a place which provides internet access to the public, usually for a fee. These businesses usually provide snacks and drinks, hence the café in the name... and others. It also offers a wide variety of shops for clothing, shoes, jewellery, furniture, terracotta, faience and all sorts of goods. There are mobile operators offices, bank offices, dry cleaner's, locksmith and other services. |
|
| The Mall The Mall (Sofia) The Mall, Sofia, is the largest shopping mall in the Balkans. Opened in spring 2010 by Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, the Mall has a total built area of on six stories, three of which are underground. It contains 185 shops, restaurants, recreations centres, bars, cafeterias and parking capacity for... |
The Mall, Sofia, is the largest shopping mall in Bulgaria. Opened in spring 2010 by Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, the Mall has a total built area of 65,000 square metres (700,000 sq ft) on six storeys, three of which are underground. It contains 185 shops, restaurants, recreations centres, bars, cafeterias and parking capacity for more than 2,800 vehicles. Bulgaria's largest Carrefour hypermarket at 9,000 square metres (97,000 sq ft) is within the Mall. The Mall can be found at 115 Tsarigradsko Chaussee. | |
| Serdika Center Sofia Serdika Center Sofia Serdika Center Sofia is a shopping mall located in Sofia, Bulgaria, opened in the spring of 2010 and has more than 210 stores. Serdika Center Sofia is located on Sitnyakovo Boulevard, more specifically at the corner of Sitnyakovo Boulevard and Oborishte street, in the municipality of Oborishte... |
Serdika Center Sofia is a shopping mall located in Sofia, Bulgaria, opened in the spring of 2010 and has more than 210 stores. Serdika Center Sofia is located on Sitnyakovo Boulevard, more specifically at the corner of Sitnyakovo Boulevard and Oborishte street, in the municipality of Oborishte. The shopping mall is only 5 minutes drive from Sofia's main motorway Trakiya, 10 minutes from Sofia Airport und 10 minutes from the central part of Sofia. | |
| Mega Mall Lyulin Mega Mall Lyulin Mega Mall Lyulin is located in the western part of Sofia, more specifically in the municipality of Lyulin. The mall is located on the intersection on Boulevard Tsaritsa Ioanna and Boulevard Dobrinova Skala... |
Mega Mall Lyulin is located in the western part of Sofia, more specifically in the municipality of Lyulin. The mall is located on the intersection on Boulevard Tsaritsa Ioanna and Boulevard Dobrinova Skala. The four-story shopping complex with over 24,000 sq m usable space includes a hypermarket and more than 100 stores ranging from fashion, accessories, beauty services, jewelry, books and music to cafes and restaurants. The Mega Mall is set to open for business in October 2010. | |
| Sofia Outlet Center Sofia Outlet Center Sofia Outlet Center is a shopping mall located in Sofia, Bulgaria, opened March 5, 2010. GVA Outlets has opened its ninth Outlet Centre in Europe, Sofia Outlet Center, the biggest outlet center in Bulgaria... |
Sofia Outlet Center is a shopping mall located in Sofia, Bulgaria, opened in the spring of 2010. The Mall is located on an established retail development, next to Technomarket and METRO Cash and Carry and opposite the EXPO Center in just 15 min driving distance from the heart of the city. In spring 2012 a new metro station “Tsarigradsko” will open in front of the Sofia Outlet Center. |
Gardens and Parks
| Place | Description | Picture |
|---|---|---|
| Borisova gradina Borisova gradina Borisova gradina or Knyaz-Borisova gradina is the oldest and best known park in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. Its construction and arrangement began in 1884 and it is named after Bulgarian Tsar Boris III.... |
In 1882, the then-mayor of Sofia Ivan Hadzhienov brought Swiss gardener Daniel Neff from Bucharest with the intention to create a garden for the capital of Bulgaria. The mayor's initial plans included first establishing a large nursery where trees, shrubs and flowers for the future garden would grow, also providing material for the already existing gardens and for the streets |  |
| City Garden City Garden (Sofia) The City Garden is Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria's oldest and most central public garden, in existence since 1872. It is located between Tsar Osvoboditel Boulevard to the north, Knyaz Alexander Battenberg Street to the west and Joseph Vladimirovich Gourko Street to the south, in the historical... |
The City Garden is Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria's oldest and most central public garden, in existence since 1872. It is located between Tsar Osvoboditel Boulevard to the north, Knyaz Alexander Battenberg Street to the west and Joseph Vladimirovich Gourko Street to the south, in the historical centre of the city. | |
| Vitosha park and mountain Vitosha Vitosha is a mountain massif, on the outskirts of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. Vitosha is one of the tourists symbols of Sofia and the closest site for hiking, alpinism and skiing. Convenient bus lines and rope ways render the mountain easily accessible. Vitosha has the outlines of an enormous... |
Vitosha mountain, one of the symbols of Sofia, just a short drive or lift trip away, open year round. Ski and snowboard are popular in the winter, and hiking in the summer. |  |
Other places of interest
| Place | Description | Picture |
|---|---|---|
| The Market Hall Central Sofia Market Hall The Central Sofia Market Hall , known popularly simply as The Market Hall is a covered market in the centre of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, located on Marie Louise Boulevard... |
The construction of the building, which spreads over 3,200 m², began in 1909 after the project of architect Naum Torbov was chosen in 1907, and took two years to complete. The style of the building, which is regarded as Torbov's best work, is Neo-Renaissance Neo-Renaissance Renaissance Revival is an all-encompassing designation that covers many 19th century architectural revival styles which were neither Grecian nor Gothic but which instead drew inspiration from a wide range of classicizing Italian modes... , featuring also elements of Neo-Byzantine architecture Neo-Byzantine architecture The Byzantine Revival was an architectural revival movement, most frequently seen in religious, institutional and public buildings. It emerged in 1840s in Western Europe and peaked in the last quarter of 19th century in the Russian Empire; an isolated Neo-Byzantine school was active in Yugoslavia... and Neo-Baroque. |
|
| Sofia Public Mineral Baths Sofia Public Mineral Baths The Sofia Public Mineral Baths or the Central Mineral Baths is a landmark in the centre of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, a city known for the mineral springs in the area... |
This is decorated with majolica Maiolica Maiolica is Italian tin-glazed pottery dating from the Renaissance. It is decorated in bright colours on a white background, frequently depicting historical and legendary scenes.-Name:... tiles and was completed in 1911. |
|
| The Largo Largo, Sofia The Largo is an architectural ensemble of three Socialist Classicism edifices in central Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, designed and built in the 1950s with the intention to become the city's new representative centre... |
This is an architectural complex in downtown Sofia which includes the headquarters of many national institutions. | |
| Vrana Palace Vrana Palace Vrana Palace is a former royal palace, located on the outskirts of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. It is today the official residence of the deposed Tsar Simeon II of Bulgaria and his wife Tsaritsa Margarita... |
Vrana Palace is a former royal palace, located on the outskirts of Sofia Sofia Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated... , the capital of Bulgaria Bulgaria Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east... . It is today the official residence of the deposed Tsar Tsar Tsar is a title used to designate certain European Slavic monarchs or supreme rulers. As a system of government in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire, it is known as Tsarist autocracy, or Tsarism... Simeon II of Bulgaria and his wife Tsaritsa Margarita Margarita Gomez-Acebo y Cejuela Doña Margarita Gómez-Acebo y Cejuela, born on 6 January 1935 in Madrid, Spain, is the consort of Tsar Simeon II of Bulgaria, whom she married after his exile... . While the Royal palace in the centre of Sofia (today the National Art Gallery and National Ethnographic Museum) served representative purposes and the Euxinograd Euxinograd Euxinograd is a former late 19th-century Bulgarian royal summer palace and park on the Black Sea coast, north of downtown Varna. It is currently a governmental and presidential retreat hosting cabinet meetings in the summer and offering access for tourists to several villas and hotels... palace near Varna Varna Varna is the largest city and seaside resort on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast and third-largest in Bulgaria after Sofia and Plovdiv, with a population of 334,870 inhabitants according to Census 2011... was a summer residence, Vrana was the palace where the royal family of Bulgaria spent most of their time. |
 |
| Yablanski House Yablanski House The Yablanski House is a Neo-Baroque house in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, situated at 18 Tsar Osvoboditel Boulevard in the city centre and regarded as one of the highest achievements of the city's architecture in the first decade of the 20th century... |
The Yablanski House was built in 1906-1907 to the designs of Austro-Hungarian architect Friedrich Grünanger Friedrich Grünanger Friedrich Grünanger was an Austro-Hungarian architect who worked primarily in Bulgaria.Born in Schäßburg in Austria-Hungary , Grünanger studied at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna architecture school between 1877 and 1879, under Friedrich von Schmidt... (1856–1929) on the order of the wealthy financier Financier Financier is a term for a person who handles typically large sums of money, usually involving money lending, financing projects, large-scale investing, or large-scale money management. The term is French, and derives from finance or payment... and former mayor of Sofia Dimitar Yablanski (1859–1924). |
 |
| The yellow paveds | Sofia's central boulevards paved with Viennese yellow cobblestones. | |
| Sofia Zoo Sofia Zoo Sofia Zoo in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, was founded by royal decree on 1 May 1888, and is Bulgaria's oldest and largest zoological garden. It covers and, as of March 2006, housed 1,113 animals representing 244 species.-History:... |
The Sofia Zoo was founded in 1888, has an area of 230,000 m² and, houses 1,113 animals representing 244 species. | |
| Lion's Bridge Lavov most Lions' Bridge is a bridge over the Vladaya River in the centre of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, built 1889-1891 by Czech architect Václav Prošek, his brother Jozef and his cousins Bohdan and Jiří... |
Lavov Most is a bridge over the Vladaya River Vladaya River The Vladaya River is a river in western Bulgaria, a tributary to the Iskar River.The river flows from the northwestern slopes of Cherni Vrah on Vitosha Mountain, crossing Torfeno Branishte Nature Reserve, then submerging beneath Zlatnite Mostove Stone River, turning to the northeast at the village... in the centre of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria Bulgaria Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east... , built 1889-1891 by Czech architect Václav Prošek, his brother Jozef and his cousins Bohdan and Jiří. |
|
| Eagle's Bridge Orlov most Eagles' Bridge is a bridge over the Perlovska River in the centre of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. It gives the name to the important and busy juncture at which it is located... |
Orlov Most (Bulgarian: Орлов мост, meaning "Eagle's Bridge") is a bridge over the Perlovska River in the centre of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. It gives the name to the important and busy juncture at which it is located. | |
| The ancient fortress of Serdica | ||
| Amphitheatre of Serdica Amphitheatre of Serdica The Amphitheatre of Serdica was an amphitheatre in the Ancient Roman city of Ulpia Serdica, now Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. Discovered in 2004 and the subject of excavations in 2005 and 2006, the ruins of the amphitheatre lie on two adjacent sites in the centre of modern Sofia... |
The Amphitheatre of Serdica was an amphitheater in the Roman city of Serdica, now Sofia. | |
| Borisova Gradina TV Tower Borisova Gradina TV Tower The Borisova Gradina TV Tower or the Old TV Tower is a 106-metre tall TV tower in the garden Borisova Gradina in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. It is known as the tower used for the first Bulgarian National Television broadcasts in 1959.- History :The tower was designed by architect Lyuben... |
The old TV Tower is a 106-metre tall. The tower was designed by architect Lyuben Podponev, engineer A. Voynov and technologist Georgi Kopkanov. Construction began in December 1958 and the tower was officially opened on 26 December 1959. It has an area of 144 m² and 14 floors. |